David Bates, the widow flanked by his son and daughter, faced Kelley and said he "forgave you long ago because I could not live with the anger.

Kelley apologized "I am truly sorry not because I am standing here. I am sorry I have done something unforgivable."

The Branch County Sheriff Office (BCSO) reported Kelley had attempted to pass a semi tractor-trailer at a speed of over 100 mph while headed south on Marshall Rd near Mill Rd. He hit the northbound Bates car head on.

Bates was a registered nurse who was on her way to Michigan State University where she was studying to be a nurse practitioner when the wreck occurred early in the morning. She died at the scene even though she was wearing a seat belt and her air bag deployed.

Kelley had a blood alcohol level of .10. Judge O’Grady wondered how much he drank to have that high an alcohol level that early in the morning.

The Judge told the 2009 Coldwater high School graduate who completed three years at Western Michigan University, "at some point you’ll get to continue your life while others will remember their loss forever."

In a society filled with ads and warnings about drinking and driving Judge O’Grady said he sent Kelley to prison as a deterrence for the rest of society to take heed not to drink and drive because of what could happen.

Defense attorney Joe Hayes said Kelley did not remember the wreck. He had four surgeries and was hospitalized 45 days. "To some degree this is a self inflicted punishment."

Kimble added both Kelley and Jessica Bates came from good families "two families that will be impacted the rest of their lives."